15 Apip(The Fifteenth Day of the Blessed Month of Abib)

The Departure of St. Ephraem El-Soriani (The Syrian)

On this day, of the year 379 A.D., the holy father, St.
Ephraem (Ephraim) the Syrian, departed. He was born in the city of Nissibis, in
the beginning of the fourth century to pagan parents, during the days of the
righteous Emperor Constantine. It happened that he met with St. James bishop of
Nissibis, who preached to him and taught him the particulars of the Christian
Faith. Ephraem believed on his hands. St. James baptized him and Ephraim stayed
with him. He excelled in his worship that surpassed his contemporaries. He
debated the pagans and overcame them by the grace that was within him. When the
council of Nicea convened, he went with his teacher St. James to attend the
council.

One day, it happened that while St. Ephraem was
praying, he saw a pillar of light which extended from earth to heaven. When he
marvelled at what he saw, he heard a voice saying to him, "That what you saw is
St. Basil, Bishop of Caesaria." St. Ephraem longed to see St. Basil and he went
to Caesaria. He entered the church and stood in a corner of it. He saw St. Basil
in his priestly vestments embroidered with gold. St. Ephraim doubted the
holiness of St. Basil. The Lord showed him a white dove that alighted over St.
Basil's head. God then inspired St. Basil of the presence of St. Ephraem. St.
Basil called him by his name, and St. Ephraem marvelled at how he knew him. They
greeted each other, and St. Basil ordained him a deacon.

St. Ephraem increased his asceticism, and many great
virtues were manifested through him that surpass description. Among which was
that of an honorable woman, who was ashamed to confess her sins orally to St.
Basil. She wrote on a paper her sins which she had committed since her youth,
and gave it to St. Basil. When he received it and knew what was written in it,
he prayed for her. The piece of paper became blank except for only one great
sin. The woman wept, and entreated him to pray for her that God might forgive
this sin for her. St. Basil told her, "Go to the wilderness where St. Ephraem is
and he will pray for you." The woman went to him and told him what had happened.
He said to her, "I am not worthy of this honor, go back to St. Basil for he is a
high priest. Go now quickly before he departs from this world." When the woman
returned, she found that St. Basil had departed, and was carried on the heads
of the priests. She wept, and threw the piece of paper on his coffin. She prayed
to God interceding through the saint. Then, she took the piece of paper, and she
found it completely blank.

St. Ephraem had performed many miracles. In his days,
Ebn-Disan the Infidel appeared. This father debated with him until he overcame
his erroneous opinions. He wrote many articles and discourses. When he completed
his strife, he departed to the Lord.